Players vie for the ball during the QNB Stars Legague match between Al Shahania and Al Ahli at Al Sadd Stadium yesterday.
Iranian midfielder Ramin Rezaein scored a brilliant double as Al Shahania managed a lifeline to stay in QNB Stars League (QSL) by crushing Al Ahli 3-1 at Al Sadd Stadium yesterday.
It was just the second win of the season for bottom-placed Al Sailiyah who are currently involved in a three-way battle with Al Khor and Umm Salal for survival in the top league. Rezaein scored in the 22nd and 29th minutes before Kesse Amangoua (81) added another to Al Shahania’s tally.
Tunisian striker Ahmed Akaichi, who recently moved from Al Shahania to Al Ahli, scored the only goal for ‘The Brigadiers’ in the 60th minute.
Yesterday’s win took Al Shahania’s points tally to 13 as they stay a point behind Al Khor and two behind Umm Salal. Al Ahli’s defeat yesterday was their ninth this season as they remained eighth in the standings with 19 points. Al Shahania were off to a brilliant start to the League resumption following a long break was caused by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Rezaein’s first goal came off a diving header after Nigel de Jong curled in a free-kick. The Iranian scored his second goal off a penalty which was awarded to the Nabil Anwar-coached side when Al Ahli’s John Beitsoun tripped Amangoua. For Al Ahli, Shane Lowry fumbled with his header after Nabil El Zhar set him up with a free-kick.
After Akaichi reduced the margin on the hour mark with his quick header off a corner kick from the right by Hernan, Al Ahli raised visions of drawing level when they looked like having earned a penalty in the 68th minute, but that was ruled out by the Video Assistant Referee. Al Shahania captain Alvaro Perez seemed to have fouled Hernan. Amangoua made it 3-1 in favour of Al Shahania when he found the target after receiving a long high ball.
Their previous match earlier this season had ended in a two-all draw. Elsewhere, at Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah and Al Sailiya played out a goalless draw. Al Wakrah and Al Sailiya have 20 and 24 points respectively.
It was Al Wakrah’s fifth draw and Al Sailiya’s third. Al Sailiya had beaten Al Wakrah 3-1 in the first leg. Al Wakrah were hunting for a win in yesterday’s game after suffering three successive defeats before the break in March. However, Al Sailiya who are pushing for a top-four finish, would rue the two missed points as they target a place in the Qatar Cup and AFC Champions League.
Last season, they finished third, their best-ever performance in the league. Al Sailiya are currently placed sixth with 24 points. They share the same number of points with Al Arabi, who are fifth based on goal difference. Al Wakrah are seventh with 20 points.
